RONEIL WALCOTT

After weeks of speculation about whether crime talks between Government and the Opposition would happen, former police commissioner Gary Griffith says he is clearing the way for the discussions by bowing out of the Opposition’s team.

On Monday, Griffith issued a press release which accused the Prime Minister of “seeking excuses” and making him the scapegoat in the stalling of crime discussions.

The political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) said, “Politics should be in the best interest of the people, not personalities.”

“I am a patriot first, and I always put my country above everything else. This is why, after consultations with Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, (...) I have agreed to forgo my inclusion in anti-crime talks with the government.”

Griffith said he is disappointed with Dr Rowley’s narrow focus, and he hopes his withdrawal can pave the way for the important discussions. Griffith said he will continue to render support to the Opposition regardless of his political affiliation, but there must be open conversations on the “100-plus policies” and different implementations, shut down since his tenure as police commissioner ended in August 2021.

“It was clear that Prime Minister Rowley, fuelled by bitterness and rage, or maybe simply being intimidated to face me, was prepared to use my inclusion as an excuse, falsely depicting it as a “deal breaker.”

“It is now hoped that maturity takes precedence over emotion, and he not only agrees to terms for the anti-crime talks with the Opposition but that he also attends and leads his team.”

Speaking last Monday during a media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Dr Rowley said the Opposition viewed the current crime rate as helpful to its chances of regaining office.

[caption id="attachment_1047386" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley -[/caption]

He said the Opposition was not serious about crime as they had not submitted their list of names for the crime talks, although Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, had written to the opposition requesting their list.

He also accused the Opposition of using the back-and-forth over the crime talks as “self-promotion.”

On Monday, Persad-Bissessar also released a statement, saying she hopes Griffith’s decision “will assuage the fears and insecurities of the Prime Minister” to engage the opposition.

She said it was not the time to take stubborn stances when the citizens are terrorised by violent criminals.

She called for “humility” and “co-operation” on behalf of the nation’s leaders, who must have love for people and country.

Persad-Bissessar urged the Prime Minister to invite stakeholders to contribute to crime talks, broaden the topics beyond legislation and desist from using anti-crime talks to push political propaganda.

She also wants Rowley to implement numerous policies presented by the Opposition and lead a credible team to represent the government in the crime talks.

Earlier this month, Professor Ramesh D